Thinking about selling one of my OG 404s and getting a different SP... Maybe based on what I like/don't like about the 404 (the only SP I have ever used) somebody might be able to help me decide...

My favorite features on the 404 are the portability, speed of workflow and simple button-combinations as commands. The speediness and efficiency is probably the most important of these for me.. I would prefer whichever SP I get next to be compatible with CF cards and interchangeable with the 404... not sure if that is a realistic expectation.

What I hate about the 404: Lack of true pitch. That's about it. Also I would have loved it to have MIDI out.

I've done some reading about various SPs and want to make sure my info is correct.

202: So this thing has pitch, but only a few semitones and no resampling feature. However, it is battery-operated.

303: From what I've read the 303 is pretty much a 404 with less pads, better-sounding effects and you can resample along with the input signal simultaneously. Not portable, and no so fast to execute commands.

404SX: Basically the same as 404, but less generation-loss when resampling? Fast processing... but not too different from the OG.

505: True pitch? How many semitones? I think I read somewhere that this model is very slow to process. But it does have MIDI out, which is cool.

555: Like a 404 with more pads and banks... Is there anything else special about it besides the D-beam?

606: Supposedly this is like the MPC of the SP series... I think I read that it is kind of slow. I don't need a sequencer and this thing seems to be pretty heavy on the sequencing capabilites. still, no true pitch right?

808: I really know nothing about this one except she looks pretty big...

So from the perspective of someone that has never used the other models, it seems like the 505 would be a good choice. What do you think? Thanks in advance if you took the time to read this long ass post.

edit: So it would appear there is a 16-levels type feature for pitch, but same sort of pitch as 404...

hi man glad to hear news by you!
true pitch is a malady for me too!


exactly


well, the 303 differs in a/d converters, that's why the effetcs seems "better sounding" but it's just "different", it dipends on points of views; also we improved a nerdy battery pack to make this thing portable (it's not super practical, but...), but, basically the 303 is a 404 less powerfull, as you said and the live sequencer on the 404 is a real upgrading from roland.



for the 505:
no.
unfortunately this isnt the same as true pitch; this machine as this cool function, pitch function, that is basically 3 musical algorhythm (music, lo,hi) to use for different kind of samples. it wokrs cool when pitching is "near" the original pitch; but as i said it dipends on samples. anyway the lenght of the samples always stays the same, so this isnt true pitch...pay attention, sometimes the sound is iper stretched and could be a total disaster...(or a total creative different way...)...it's a poor version of mpc 16levels...other: the 505 doesnt save in wav...
the 606 is the same machine as the 505, same 4tracks sequencer, same cool microediting, BUT no pitch function, 2fx simultaneously(+dbeam filter=3fx),no degrading on resampling, sensitive pads,integration with pc as sound card/controller via usb,compact flash card (512mb), saves in wav, mute groups, Roll,curious synth engine (on the dbeam and another one on internal fx)...the sp808 got something like this too...i think it has also true pitch...


well, the 505 is more "studio" than "live" in my opinion:this machine is more for building tracks (it has also pattern and songs mode)... it's a bit less immediate than 303-404 battalion...the 606 is more accurate for that aim (live/immediate), even if the workflow is quite the same as 505s, there are some features that allows to be more live-interaction (2fx,dbeam synth/filter, mute groups,roll etc)...the 2 machine shares also the same screen capabilities on chopping samples waves (autochop on both machines works ok on separate sounds -read: drum loops- than the rest...)...the 505 got a better sample copy function (the clipboard function): it can copy many samples on clipboard to distribute on the pads banks you want while the 606 can copy only one per time (damn roland...)

.

+100000 (but i'm not objective here, i love that machine )

Thanks guys! great input. I've been doing fine with my mpc2500/404 combo, it's just that I've got that other 404 I'm only using as an aux fx device since I haven't played live in a while and have little reason to include it in the process of making tracks. Ella, thanks for the in-depth response on the different models. I've been reading up on the sampletrak, looks great!

ah ok, so you want a machine to substitute that other 404...? then look also for yamaha su10 (very cheap, portable) it has true pitch and for its used price is a decent machine, but complicated for sample saving: it save files via midi and then you can convert them in wav; the su200 too has a scale pitch function, and it is portable too, it saves in wav. But seeing as this, the 224 indeed is really a major league...true pitch, pitch scale,sample when listening patterns, live timestretch, live swing etc it doesn't saves in wav but you can convert its files in wav...the same little six battery pack we improved for the sp303 fits for the 224...
another cheap machine to look for is the korg es1: it could be a changing workflow from typical mpc sp st world...only big complaint i got on this is the fact it mainly uses just one shot samples...

I've got a sp505, Yamaha su10, zoom sampletrak and a korg ESX, let me know if you have any specific questions about these machines.

Got the ESX as well. Those things are seriously underrated, they can be incredibly fast to sequence with once you know 'em. Plus you get real pitch & a keyboard to play them chromatically.

I've been thru a fair amount of samplers:
Kept: MV8800, SP555, SP404SX, ESX, KP3
Had and Sold: SP505, Sampletrak, RS7000, ES-1

To keep it short, the MV88k is an absolute MPC killer, magnificent sequencing, effects, sample pitching/stretch/LFO/filtering, but its as big as six SP404s and would not be maybe a live/portable tool choice.

The SP555 has more effects than the 404, velocity sensing pads, loop capture, effect saving (each of 16 pads can 'switch' to a saved effect with saved settings), and can resample patterns (w/ loop capture) or sample as something is playing. SP404sx is fun, basically 404 with faster operations and no (file) compression for sound quality. ESX is fun, I use it more as an aux FX tool and drum machine rather than full composition tool.


The sampletrack did not click on workflow or speed for me, but gritty sound was nice; the SP505 again the slow smartmedia card speed killed it but i enjoyed the chopping/pitch/vinyl sim

PS: you can rig a ~$38 dollar portable battery pack for any SP that runs on 9V:
viewtopic.php?f=13&t=13890

Thanks for the responses guys. Formal, I'll let you know if I have any questions about those machines

I think the 555 loop capture is seriously under rated, works like a kinda limeted looping station, really usable a few of the added effects are nice, and being able to resample sequences is a big plus, no real pitch tho.

Whats happening formal!?
I have some questions about the su10.
I had one for years and abandon it with the acquiring of other gear.
I just started using it again, working on my loop choosing and editing on lunch break at work...

So, I haven't quite figured out any tricks, unless there aren't any. Are there?
Do you use it for simpler processing or do you go to it to make a track?
I get the impression that the manual is all I need.
If you use the su10 for beatmaking, is bouncing to an outside source (recording walkman, minidisc, 4track) a necessary part of workflow?
Of the list above, do you prefer one over the others?

Last one...
While the su10 has a few fun and useful features, do you feel they are only best used for or as final effects on a beat?
Otherwise, the scale feature I assume can only be used like an instrument and be a layer in a 4 track beat.
I guess i haven't explored using the scales feature over a loop...

Thanks in advance for letting me pick your brain.
Peace fam

one trick i use to use is this: while controlling externally the su10 via a sequencer, i change on the fly from play mode to pitch scale mode for few seconds by choosing on of the samples sequenced on the bank and then i go back to play mode, there are weird and sometimes interesting results...
...the bouncing process is in need if you want to sample effected samples by the su10 (filters or pitch or crossfader su10 skills)...